Download NCEA Level 3 Science (90731) 2012 Assessment Schedule

NCEA Level 3 Science (90731) 2012 — page 1 of 2
Assessment Schedule – 2012
Science: Describe geological processes affecting New Zealand (90731)
Evidence Statement
Achievement
with Merit
Achievement
with Excellence
Q
Evidence
Achievement
ONE
The Alpine Fault is an example of a transform
fault. It involves continental to continental crust
pushing / sliding past each other. The two plates
are pushing together, as well as the lateral
movement. This means that the plates are
pushing the crust up and sideways. This
movement is a result of the convection currents
within the earth’s mantle dragging past the crust.
Movement along the Alpine Fault can be both
horizontal and vertical. The vertical movement
pushes up the Alps. Also, the overriding of the
Pacific Plate over the Australian Plate also
increases the height of the Southern Alps.
The upward movement of the crust results in the
formation of the Southern Alps.
Description of the
Alpine Fault.
Explanation of
the processes
leading to the
Alpine Fault.
OR
Explanation of
how the
Southern Alps
are formed.
Linking the
processes leading
to the Alpine
Fault to the
formation of the
Southern Alps.
TWO
The plate boundary in the North Island is a
subducting plate boundary with the Pacific Plate
subducting under the Australian Plate. The lower
South Island is also subducting but the Australian
Plate subducts under the Pacific Plate. The
middle of the South Island is a transform fault
with the two plates sliding past each other.
The diagram shows the earthquakes getting
deeper the further they occur from the plate
boundary. This is because as the plate subducts it
moves at an angle downwards from the plate
boundary. Also, this shows the angle the plate is
dipping at, shown by how closely together the
different depths are. This is because the
earthquakes here are as a result of the subducting
crust dragging against the mantle.
It also shows that there are no deep earthquakes
along the Alpine Fault. This is because the
movement here is in the crust.
Description of the
plate boundaries.
Explanation of
why the
earthquakes get
deeper further
from the plate
boundary.
OR
Explanation of
why the Alpine
Fault has no deep
earthquakes.
Linking the plate
boundary
through New
Zealand to the
distribution of
the deep
earthquakes.
NCEA Level 3 Science (90731) 2012 — page 2 of 2
THREE
Mount Ngauruhoe is an andesitic volcano and
Taupo is a rhyolitic volcano.
Ngauruhoe has the steep sides characteristic of
an andesitic volcano because andesitic magma
has a moderate temperature, moderate viscosity,
moderate silica content and moderate amount of
gas. This leads to lava that is thicker, but can still
flow a bit, thus creating a steeper sided cone
volcano. The cone is built up in layers.
Taupo is a crater because the rhyolitic magma
has a relatively low temp, high viscosity, high
silica content and high conc. of gas. This leads to
explosive eruptions, where there is little lava
flow. The high viscosity means that gas is
trapped in the magma, hence the high
concentration of gas and the extreme
explosiveness of the eruption. The large volume
of magma erupted causes instability including
fractures in the surrounding rocks. This causes
the ground to collapse causing caldera.
Description of the
type of magma and
volcanic features.
Explanation of
how the magma
leads to the
volcanic
features.
Linking the
properties of the
magma to the
volcanic
features.
Judgement Statement
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with Excellence
2A
2M
2E
OR
1E+1M+1A